Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Italy’s intelligence officials to anchor national security firmly in ethical principles, warning that the pursuit of peace must never override human dignity or truth.
Addressing intelligence professionals at the Vatican to mark the centenary of Italy’s Security Intelligence System, the US-born pontiff reflected on the country’s first coordinated intelligence service, launched in 1925. He noted that while intelligence tools and capabilities have advanced dramatically over the past century, the moral responsibilities and risks associated with such work have also increased.
Protecting peace without compromising dignity
Pope Leo said intelligence officials carry a “serious responsibility” to monitor threats to the nation and contribute to the protection of peace. However, he cautioned that discretion and secrecy, though necessary, can be misused if not guided by strong ethical standards.
“Security activity must never lose sight of the dignity and rights of each individual,” he said, stressing that professionalism in intelligence work requires constant respect for the human person.
Individual rights must not be sacrificed
The pontiff warned against justifying rights violations in the name of an urgent common good. National security, he said, must never come at the cost of fundamental freedoms, including private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial.
He also highlighted the ethical challenges posed by modern communication technologies, noting that misinformation, manipulation and the exploitation of vulnerable people are growing risks in an era of constant and instant connectivity.
Warning against misuse of intelligence
Pope Leo strongly cautioned that confidential information should never be used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail or discredit public officials, journalists or any other group.
Concluding his address, he urged intelligence professionals to pursue their work with balance and discernment, always prioritising the common good while remaining “firmly anchored to legal and ethical principles that place the dignity of the human person above all else.”